Here is a short post to share my excitement with you.Blast Off, Issue 7, by the lovely people at The School Magazine, will be going out to readers in July. My short story,My Sister Ate My Science Project, can be found on page seven.In itself that is pretty exciting already, after all, this will be my first ever story to be purchased and published. But then, I almost fell off my rather large and comfortable chair, when I discovered my story is illustrated on the cover by the talented Vivienne To. It feels so satisfying to know that actual children will be reading something I wrote soon and just as exhilarating to see the story depicted visually. And now I know, ahhh, this is why I keep going at it in this crazy writing life.About the issue:Blast Off: Science simmers in this issue! There‘s a story about a science project that is eaten by … a little girl; an article about the science behind bubbles; an activity that will leave you blocking your ears; and an article about vehicles that drive themselves! The Book slice this month is a visual feast; it's all about life on earth. And of course, there's a play to perform.

Close up - by Vivienne To.

More information about The School Magazine (from the 'About' page) What is The School Magazine? It is Australia's most loved and longest-running literary magazine for children. For generations, it has been introducing young readers to a world of words.The School Magazine has been published by the NSW Department of Education since 1916 and is currently part of the NSW Curriculum and Learning Innovation Centre within the Department of Education and Communities. The secret of its enduring success is its quality and its ability to engage young readers. A small in-house team compiles 40 magazines each and every year, drawing on the skills of the finest writers and illustrators in Australia and world-wide.

I first met Karen Tyrrell during her book launch for Bailey Beats the Blah at my local library. Soon after I was thrilled to meet Karen again at Write Links, the Brisbane Children's Writers group. I soon realized that here is a powerhouse in children's writing when it comes to stories with a mental health message.Karen is a passionate mental health advocate and her stories have received strong support and recognition from schools and mental health professionals.Karen works tirelessly and is a frequent speaker on the subjects of writing and building an author platform. It has been wonderful having Karen as part of our group through her encouragement and support of other writers and in sharing information and her experiences.Without further ado, I would like to present Karen's latest book, a Junior Novel, STOP the Bully: SYNOPSIS: Eleven year old Brian is hiding something. His life is falling apart. Dad abandoned the family. Brian hates his new school. And now an aggressive bully attacks him every day. Can Brian STOP the Bully without revealing his shameful secret?STOP the Bully is a riveting junior novel to empower girls and boys with assertive strategies. The mystery reveals the bullying dilemma from all perspectives.STOP the Bully raises big issues: bullying, family break-ups, poverty, self-esteem, coping with change, friendship, forgiveness and reconciliation.

5% sales go to Kids Helpline to help Kids in Crisis, STOP the Bully is now available from Amazon.

How to Write a Junior Novel with Karen Tyrrell: How did STOP the Bully develop? First I pictured the ending with a twist, and then I wrote the story “backwards.” I created STOP the Bully as a fast paced mystery incorporating positive messages and offering bullying solutions. How did you know STOP the Bully was ready to publish? When I could improve STOP the Bully no more, I sent it out to five Beta readers for critique. I listened to their feedback and suggestion continually upgrading and improving my story. I changed some of the action, dialogue, prose and even character’s descriptions until STOP the Bully became a much stronger version than the original idea.

Why did you publish STOP the Bully? My dream was to create a junior novel to empower children to overcome bullying and become more resilient in future episodes. Prevention is FAR better than cure. I wanted to empower children with anti-bullying strategies and boost their self-esteem at the same time be entertaining. What advice would you give to someone who wants to publish their children’s book? A. Immerse yourself into the genre of children’s chapter and junior books. Practice writing techniques such as dialogue, setting, character development, creating a character the reader can empathize with while crafting a strong story arc. B. Create a junior novel on a theme you’re passionate about. Your energy will shine through in your writing. C. Send out your to junior novel to experienced Beta readers for critique and advice. D. Develop your junior novel over time by rewriting, redrafting and perfecting. E. Contract the very best editor, illustrator, cover designer and formatter you can find to create a professional child-centred junior novel appealing to kids, parents and teachers alike.STOP the Bully is aligned with Kids Matter, national education curriculum and supported by Kids Helpline.ISBN: 9780987274069 Available on Amazon and independent bookshops (such as Black Cat Books in Paddington, Brisbane). Download FREE children's activities and FREE teacher notes from www.karentyrrell.com

Karen Tyrrell is an award-winning Australian author and teacher. Karen presents interactive story telling sessions, creative writing workshops, seminars and author talks in schools, libraries, festivals and confer-ences. She speaks out on TV, radio and writes for magazines.Bailey Beats the Blah (2013) empowers children with resilience skills. STOP the Bully (2014) junior novel empowers children with assertive anti-bullying strategies.